Consecration Of The Earl Of Lathom Rose Croix Chapter, No. 137.

V . D ., m office , and the latter having appointed and invested his officers , and a Committee to frame by-laws , having been appointed , the other business was disposed of , and the chapter closed . The musical arrangements were in charge of Bro . Herbert Schartau , and among the visitors were Bros . Dr . Bilfour Cockburn , 32 ° , Ralph Gooding , 32 ° , and E . Armitage , 31 .

The following is a complete list of the founders , namely , Bros . Alfred Bevan , 3 ° , William Briant , Major G . H . N . Bridges , William Cock , W . Russell Finlay , J . A . Fletcher , J . W . S . Godding , Harry F . Greig , Capt . George Hearn , 30 , the Earl of Portarlington , F . C . Richmond-Parry , Robert J . Voisey , Frank Williams , and the Rev . C . E . Leigh Wright , 30 °

Ladies' Night Of The Royal Athelstan Lodge, No. 19.

LADIES' NIGHT OF THE ROYAL ATHELSTAN LODGE , No . 19 .

PRESENTATION TO BRO . W . M . BYWATER , P . G . S . B ., ON HIS

JUBILEE IN FREEMASONRY . The regular November meeting of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , was held on the 12 th inst . at the City Terminus Hotel , Bro . Edwyn George Young , W . M ., presiding . The brethren who attended were , besides the W . M ., Bros . W . F . Stauffer , S . W . ; G . Risdon Carsberg , J . W . ; Henry Glenn , P . M ., Treas . ; C . B . Barnes , P . M ., Sec ; W . Stacey , S . D . j M . Marsland , J . D . ; J . H . Merrett , I . G . ; Milton Smith , I . P . M . ; Witham M . Bywater , P . M ., P . G . S . B .,

D . C ; W . Pound , P . M ., Stwd . ; W . P . Campbell Everden , Org . ; F . E . Collard , P . M . ; J . H . Whadcoat , P . M . ; H . C . Jeffs , P . M . ; James Dix , P . M . ; Arthur Wormull , P . M . ; T . E . Williams , G . Stevens , G . W . Capel , F . W . Dunn , O . Marsland , C H . Barnes , W . C . Barnes , J . W . Barnes , M . Pulvermann , A . C . Burnley , M . Miroy , W . Foxton , and A . D . Green , P . M . The list of visitors included the names of Bros . G . Clark , jun ., P . M . 222 S ; Robert Colsell , S . W . 16 95 ; R . Hovenden , P . M . 21 ; R . Clowes , P . G . Std . Br . ; J . J . Lamigeon , W . M . 2551 , Treas . 1929 ; Sir John B . Monckton , P . G . W . ; E . Letchworth , G . Sec .: Thos .

Fenn , P . Pres . Bd . Gen . Purposes ; Frank Richardson , P . G . D . ; H . Massey , 160 , P . M . 619 and 1928 ; W . Humphry , LP . M . 195 ; George Mickley , M . D ., P . M . 6 3 ; James Boyton , 1426 ; H . H . Pinkney , P . M . 1389 , P . P . J . G . W . Durham ; Walter Tyler , J . W . 862 j F . H . Riddle , I . P . M . 173 j C . E . Birch , P . P . J . G . W . Herts ; J . Edward Cockett , P . M . 1364 and 1672 ; Will E . Chapman , A . G . D . C . ; B . M . Hammond , 463 ; G . W . Cordery ; F . H . Mabbett ; G . R . Blades , 1 ; Geo . Lambert , P . G . S . B . ; H . Scott Smith , 2470 ; A . D . Jollye , 1287 ; and J . Selham Browne , 1648 ; R . F . Gould , P . M . 92 , P . G . D ., and many others .

The W . M . initiated Messrs . Ernest Morton Wyche , David Galbraith , and David Paterson , and the J . W ., Bro . Carsberg , delivered the charge . Following upon this came the presentation of an address of congratulation to Bro . Witham Matthew Bywater , P . M ., P . G . S . B ., on his completing the 50 th year of his entrance into Masonry . The presentation of this address was made in lodge , but the portrait in oils , painted by Bro . Bywater ' s daughter , Miss Katherine D . M . Bywater , was presented later in the evening , before a full company of brethren and ladies , this being the ladies' night .

Bro . J AMES DIX , P . M ., in presenting the illuminated address , said the hrethren all knew the reason for which he rose to address them . They were there on that occasion to celebrate the jubilee of a brother who was hi ghly esteemed not only in the Royal Athelstan Lodge , but in the Craft in general . He thought they would have to go far to find a brother more renowned and respected in the lodge and in the whole course of Masonry . He could say more in dealing with that subject , but another opportunity would be afforded him later on , and ,

therefore , he reserved himself for that ; but he would say that the way in which the proposal to make that presentation had been responded to by the brethren showed that it was the general wish of the brethren that a suitable testimonial should be presented to Bro . Bywater to hand down to succeeding generations the fact that he had been so many years attached to the lodge , and had served in all the offices , and that during the whole of that time he had been a true brother among all those with whom he had come in contact . With the brethren ' s permission , he would now read the address :

" Dear Bro . Bywater , —We , the Master , Past Masters , Officers , and members of the Royal Athelstan Lodge , No . 19 , of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the United Grand Lodge of England , cannot permit the occasion of your attaining the 50 th anniversary of your initiation and full membership of this ancient lodge to pass without celebrating it in true Masonic fashion . A period so extended , covering as it does the estimated duration of nearly two lives , is not often attained , and we are thankful that the Great Architect of the Universe in His great goodness has spared your life so long and that you are still with us , We desire

also to express the gratitude we feel in remembering that your association has been one to all of us of unbroken unanimity . Your natural kindness of heart and your being a true Mason have caused us all to find they have in you a guide , a counsellor , and friend , and that sinking all personal feelings the interests of the lodge ever have been and are paramount with you . That you may still be spared many years to your daughters and to us is our earnest prayer . We beg the acceptance of a portrait of yourself painted in oils by your daughter , as a token of the affection and love we bear towards you . We are , dear Bro . Bywater , with all fraternal regards , " & c .

Then followed the names of all the members of the lodge . The address was dated 12 th November , 1896 , and at the bottom was a representation of the centenary jewel . It was chiefly to Bro . Bywater , coupled with the exertions of Bro . Goldsmith , in searching through the records of the lodge that they were enabled to obtain the centenary jewel . Therefore it was thought apt that a representation of the jewel should appear on the testimonial .

Bro . W . M . BYWATER , P . M .. P . G . S . B ., rose to acknowledge the gift , when he was received with loud applause . He said : W . M . and brethren , —1 receive this address with considerable emotional feelings because I look back to 50 years of connection with the lodge . ( Hear , hear . ) I have a great love for this lodge , brethren , and the longer I have known it the stronger and stronger have been the

l | es ; and I have ever present in my mind the friendship and kind regard and consideration which I have always received from the members of No . 19 —( hear , hear , ) —I do not know , brethren , that I can say more than thank Bro . Dix for kindly being your mouthpiece on this occasion , and as , I suppose , as has been intimated ' 0 me , something will be said below , I adjourn till then what I have to say . I be ^ lo thank you , brethren , most heartily . ( Cheers ) .

During the course of the evening thc SECKEIARY announced that Bro . Hinckel died on July 7 . All old members , and many young members , remembered nim . He was initiated in the lodge in 1867 , and remained a subscribing , member unti ] his death . He passed through the various offices , and obtained the position ol Warden , but from some circumstances in businei-s he was not able at that time ' 0 take lhe Mastet ' s chair . He ( Bro . C . B . Barnes , P . M ., Sec . ) only received notice

<|> Bro . Hirckel ' s death on the morning of tlie dwy on whitli he w .-is to be bulled . He telegraphed ar . d wrote to lhe fan . ily lhat lie had nu knowledge ol the death until it was lou late . He now proposed lhat this recoid oi Bro . Hinckel be put on the minutes . As the lodge would not meet for several months afier the death , be sent a letter of condoler ce , sympathy , and regret to the family at once , lhe motion having been seconded , was earned unanimou ^ y .

Ladies' Night Of The Royal Athelstan Lodge, No. 19.

Lodge was afterwards closed , and the brethren adjourned to the pillar hall to banquet , most of them being accompanied by one lady at least . The usual toasts followed a very choice repast , and a charming concert between the speeches was executed , under the direction of Bro . Septimus Mirsland , by Miss Stella Maris , Miss Beatrice Castelle , Bro . Septimus Mirsland , and Bro . W . H . Webb , with Mr . Charles B . Gaminjn at the piano .

Bro . EDWYN GEORGE YOUNG , W . M ., ia proposing "The Queen aid ths Craft , " said the toast was always well received in a Masonic lodge , especially this year , as they were very near the completion of the doth year of her Mijesty ' s reign , and he was sure the brethren's hope was that she might long be spared to reign over them . Bro . YOUNG , W . M ., in submitting the toast of "The M . W . G . M ., " said the Prince of Wales had now held the office of Grand Master for nearly 22 years . He did not think they could have a better Graad Master ; they were well satisfied with him .

Bro . Sir J . B . MONCKTON , P . G . W ., replying tothe toast of " The Grand Officers , " said that although he had very frequently risen to respond to th it toast , he had never done so under circumstances more interesting than tnose which pre . vailed that evening . Many occasions of importance and interest had occurred to him , but it was a new thing to be present at the jubilee of a brother so hi ghly esteemed in the Craft as Bro . Bywater . Although not wishing to take the wind out of the sails of the brother who would propose Bro . Bywater ' s heilth , he

thought it would not be reasonable , or in accordance with the feelings of himself and the other Grand Officrs if he were to fail to make a few rennrks of con ^ riu . lation to Bro . Bywater on the occasion . To be present in good health in his mother lodge , of which he was Master before the present Master was born , was a marvellous thing when looking at the surrounding circumstances . No doubt there were many fifty-year-old Masons in the country , but the question was whether they were any good physically or Masonically ; but here was their good Bro .

Bywater a great deal better ; he had been a good Mason ; a working Mason and a Charitable Mason during the whole of his life . He therefore congratulated Bro . Bywater and also the young ladies , his daughters , who were with him that night ; andhecongratulated the lodge on havingso honoured and so distinguished abrother at their head as father of the lodge . Having travelled thus far out of the ordinary beaten track in responding to that toast , he returned thanks on behalf of the Grand Officers .

Bro . MILTON SMITH , the I . P . M ., proposed "The Worshipful Master . " He said Bro . Young had worked most assiduously in the offices leading up to the chair , and had so discharged his duties that no one could find fault with him . Bro . Young had done so well hitherto as W . M . that the brethren might feel sure the remainder of his term would be fulfilled to the satisfaction of the brethren , and that at the end of his year of office they would all say " well done . " On that occasion he had not only the appreciation of the brethren , but thit of tha ladies .

When he ( BrO . Smith ) last year was Master he initiated the summer outing , which had not taken piece for many years , but Bto . Young backed him up , and the great success of that festival up at Henley was due very much to Bro . Young ' s exer . tions and energy . Bro . Young ' s year had eclipsed his ( Bro . Smith ' s ) year , for now they had the ladies for the first time in the memory ot the P . Ms , sitting down

to dinner with the brethren . Therefore , they might look upon Bro . Young as a ladies'man . His efforts in pleasing the ladies were due to his good wife , whom they were all pleased to see with them looking so pleasant . The present occasion was one they would all look back to for many years , and they would all now join in wishing the W . M . long life and good health . There was no danger in wishing him long life , because as long as ever he lived he would always be Young .

Bro . E . G . YOUNG , W . M ., replying , thanked Bro . Milton Smith for his very flattering remarks , and the brethren for so heartily receiving them . It was not every Master of the Royal Athelstan Lodge who had the privilege and pleasure of presiding over a meeting of brethren and ladies . He hoped the practice would be continued many years to come , and it would be his pleasure to blast that he presided over it on the nig ht of Bro . Bywater ' s jubilee with Udies present .

Bro . J AMES DIX , P . M . ( W . M . in i 860 ) , proposed "lhc Health ol Bro . Bywater "—an important toast—and he scarcely knew how well and sufficiently to fulfil it ; but he could assure the company that from the position he held as the next senior Past Master to Bro . Bywater , whom they had met to honour , he had known him so many years , and his heart was so warm to him , that was the only reason he accepted the office . In looking back upon the past , he did not think that that lodge , and certainly very few lodges , had been honoured with a jubilee of

one of its members . That lodge in times past might have held a jubilee on behalf of Bro . Gale , who was known to many of the brethren , and who attained his 50 th year , but was not in full membership on account of his health , and had retired to the country . But Bro . Bywater , whose name was so well known and who was so dear to them all , was initiated in that lodge on that day the second Thursday in November , 1846 , and it was a great pleasure to them to think that on the very day , as it were , they were met together to celebrate this anniversary . Bro .

Bywater , after having been initiated in the lodge and admitted to the light of Freemasonry by Bro . Robb , who was W . M . of the year , appeared to have been deeply impressed with the ceremonies and principles of the Craft , and he ( Bro . Dix ) remembered when he became atterwards a member of the lodge , Bro . Bywater introduced him to lodges of instruction where he was holding important positions , such as the Lodge ot Emulation and the Percy Lodge of Instruction . Bro . Bywater was Secretary then , and taking a prominent position in the work . Bro .

Bywater was raised to the chair of the Royal Athelstan Lodge in 1853 , and under such an able president the lodge greatly prospered and increased . Whilst attending to the duties of W . M ., Bro . Bywater , of course , had the privilege of attending the Board of Benevolence and the Board of General Purposes . In a tew years they found him elected by the suffrages of the Grand Lodge in 1870 , ' 71 , ' 72 , ' 73 , and ' 74 as a member of the Board of General Purposes . That showed what progress he had made , and the impression he had created

on the Craft by association with the brethren . After that he held the office of Honorary Secretary of the Athelstan Lodge for 15 years . They all knew what the duties of Secretary were , and how they told upon the time and ensrgy ; but Bro . Bywater went heartily into the work , and tne lodge had never had a better Secretary . Then an important epoch occurred in the lodge—the obtaining of a centenary jewel . The brethren thought the time had come when the lodge should have attained the 100 th yeai of its existence , and

Bro . Bywater and Bro . Goldsmith searched the archives and proved to the Grand Secretary that they were entitled to a centenary jewel . The event was celebrated in 18 G 9—one of the most successful years they had ever seen . That was greatly owing to the energy and talent of their worthy P . M ., Bro . Bywater , who gave them ( he was full of generosity and kindness ) a history of the lodge , which was deposited in the archives of the lodge . It gave the lodge membership from 1769 . It was a great work , and ought alone to have made nis name in the lodge . Time forbade him ( Bro . Dix ) to say what Bro . Bywater had given the lodge . It

was partly due to his influence and Bro . Levinson ' s that that lodge was affiliated lo the Mount Sinai Chapter , Many of the brethren present were companions uf that chapter , On that occasion they need not be surprised that such distinguished and special services should at Ust have met with some kind of acknotvludgnieiit on the part of the brethren and the Cralt 111 gener . il , and tluy foand that Bro . Bywater was no exception to the rule that in ; nt m ; ' . in r ... viri . Ac the Annual Festival of the Society in April , 1887 , lie \ ij . i appointed oy Hid ( Continuedenp . ig , ( ijb ' . J